THE PRIVATE LIBRARY · PREVIEW
The asylum gates open, and Adrian struggles to recognize the sister he sent there. He expects her to behave on the drive home; she answers with a coldness he does not remember. Read the first two chapters free to follow their uneasy reunion, the memories it brings back, and the first signs that his authority no longer goes unchallenged.
CHAPTER ONE
Chapter 1 The Devil Has Finally Gone!
Creak—clang!
Creak—clang! A string of dull, grating sounds tore through the silence as the iron gates, towering nearly a hundred feet high, slowly parted to either side. A woman in a tattered blue-and-white striped uniform, hair wild and tangled, walked out from the entrance at a sluggish pace. Adrian Rivers heard the noise and finally let the tension ease from his brow. He stubbed out his cigarette, turned his head, and when he saw the person in front of him, his brows furrowed again. He called out with a hint of uncertainty, "Sloane?" Sloane Rivers brushed the hair away from her face, revealing pale features that, despite everything, couldn't hide their natural beauty. But her eyes—once bright and full of life—had gone cold, dulled by years of indifference. Her gaze lingered on Adrian for only a second before shifting away, as if he were nothing more than a stranger, irrelevant to her world. "What's wrong? After all these years, Adrian, you don't recognize me anymore?" Sloane's voice rose softly, tinged with mockery. "You were the one who sent me here, remember?" Adrian froze for a moment. He didn't seem used to this version of her. In his memories, she'd been rebellious, yes—but also full of fire and passion. The woman standing before him now felt like a porcupine, bristling with spikes, ready to lash out at any moment. "Get in the car. Don't embarrass yourself here," Adrian snapped back quickly, still using that impatient tone, like he was trying to cover up a flicker of unease inside. Sloane ignored his sharp words, opened the door, and climbed in. At the same time, back inside the asylum, a scene unfolded that defied all logic. The so-called "bosses"—women who once ruled the halls with cruelty and violence, feared by everyone around them—were now clutching their heads and sobbing like children. "The devil has finally gone! Thank goodness, it's finally over!" They cried again and again. The car bumped along the rugged road. Inside, the air was suffocating with tension. Adrian let out a cold snort and was the first to speak. "After all these years, I hope you've learned your lesson. When we get back, you'd better behave—keep your head down, stop pissing off Mom and Dad, and don't you dare reach for anything that doesn't belong to you." Sloane's lips curled ever so slightly, the smile bitter and mocking. Things that don't belong to me? So this is all about protecting Samantha. "This time, we've arranged a good match for you. The man is the richest man in Stonebridge, worth billions. With your reputation and your current state, landing someone like him is the best luck you'll ever get. Don't be ungrateful. Just do as you're told," Adrian continued, his voice full of command. Sloane turned her head slowly, her eyes sharp and cold as they locked onto Adrian's. It was a stare that cut through him, slicing past the lies and peeling back the mask. "If it's such a great match," she said hoarsely but clearly, every word pressed out through clenched teeth, "why doesn't Samantha marry him?" It was like she'd struck a nerve. Adrian's face darkened instantly, his eyes flaring with rage. "Samantha would never marry a..." He caught himself mid-sentence. Quickly, he straightened his collar, cleared his throat, and forced himself back into his usual smug demeanor. "Samantha has our parents—and me—making decisions for her. That's none of your concern. You just focus on doing your duty." Sloane narrowed her eyes slightly. So there is something shady about this marriage.
PAUSE · ONE CHAPTER IN
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CHAPTER TWO
Chapter 2 Threatening Her
However, in the face of this obvious differential treatment, Sloane's heart, which had already been shattered and scarred, still throbbed painfully, catching her off guard. Although she was the biological daughter of the Rivers family, from the beginning, Samantha Rivers had always been the family's beloved daughter. Samantha lived in a luxurious room, while Sloane lived in a cramped servant's room. Samantha wore custom-made haute couture dresses from famous international designers, while Sloane only had a few faded, outdated clothes, all of which were leftovers discarded by Samantha. That year, when Samantha fell into the water, she couldn't swim. Sloane, desperate, jumped in to save her, but in the end, they accused her of pushing Samantha into the water out of jealousy and locked her away for three days and nights. In the five years she spent in the asylum, she regretted it—regretted that, upon overhearing the truth about the swap from her adoptive parents, she had rushed to the Rivers family to claim her identity. She regretted that, for that cheap sense of family, she had endured repeated humiliation and schemes without speaking up. She regretted believing their so-called excuse to lay low, only to be sent to this asylum and tortured for five long years. She took a deep breath, trying to calm the turbulent emotions in her heart, and a sarcastic smile once again curled at the corner of her mouth, its bitterness standing out sharply in the dimly lit car. The car still sped toward the so-called "home," and Sloane knew that was where her real battle lay—except this time, she had returned for revenge! As the car entered the Rivers Residence, Sloane got out and looked up at the familiar yet unfamiliar luxurious house, no warmth stirring in her heart. Along the way, the servants pointed and whispered about her clothes. On the way back, Adrian tossed her a bag of clothes, saying it was a gift from Samantha, who, fearing she didn't have anything to wear after being released, had kindly sent them to her and insisted she wear them home. Sloane didn't even glance at it. With a flick of her hand, she threw the bag into the sea. "You!" Adrian, furious, raised his hand to strike her. Sloane seized his wrist, and with a light squeeze, his arm went numb instantly. Adrian stared at her, shocked. Why can't I feel my hand? "Adrian, I'm not the same person who would let you hit and scold me anymore," she said, her voice cold as if it carried shards of ice, her eyes radiating a terrifying light. She tightened her grip, and Adrian, in pain, collapsed to his knees. Ignoring the whispers of the servants, Sloane straightened her back and walked with firm steps into the villa. Inside the living room, her father, Marshall Rivers, her mother, Helen Ashford, and Samantha were chatting and laughing. As soon as Helen saw Sloane, a look of disgust appeared on her face, as though she had seen something filthy. But after Samantha lightly touched her arm, Helen quickly replaced it with a smile. "Sloane, you're back. You must have suffered these past years," Helen said insincerely, her tone lacking any trace of concern, instead blaming her. "This is all your fault. You shouldn't be so reckless back then, hitting people..." Cough! Cough! Marshall suddenly coughed several times, interrupting Helen. Realizing her slip, Helen quickly changed the subject. "Now that you're back, you need to behave properly. In a few days, we'll take you to the Hawthorne family's banquet. Don't cause any more trouble. This marriage is something we worked hard to secure for you. If you dare make a scene, don't blame us for sending you back." Sloane looked up at her coldly and sarcastically said, "Oh? Something you worked hard to secure for me? I think it's for the benefit of the Rivers family, isn't it?" Samantha, surprised by Sloane's boldness, guessed it was because she was harboring resentment. She said in a soft tone, "Sloane, you're hurting Mom and Dad with what you're saying. Besides, marrying into the Hawthorne family is something many people would envy. It's a blessing everyone would want!" Sloane looked at Samantha, her gaze piercing as if trying to see through her. "Is that so? Well then, you can have this blessing. Do you want it?" Samantha's face changed slightly, and she nervously glanced at Marshall and Helen, too afraid to speak. Marshall slammed his hand on the table and shouted, "Sloane, stop being unreasonable! This matter is settled, and you have no say in it." His gaze turned threatening as he looked at her. "If you don't want those videos to be made public, you better behave."
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